A former cricketer described as a "giant among men" has been left paralysed from the shoulders down after falling down the stairs.
Mike Heames, who represented Wales in the sport in the 1980s, has been told he will never regain movement in his lower body or legs following the tragic accident in July 2021.
It is understood the 69-year-old suffered a stroke before falling down the stairs at his home in Caerleon, near Newport, and breaking his back.
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He was taken to the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff by ambulance where scans revealed that a part of his spinal cord had been severed, causing irreparable damage.
"I could never go through what he has over the last eight months. I would have given up by now," said his devastated wife of 47 years, Irene Heames.
"He's fundamentally changed physically, but he has retained his personality. The man I love is still there but the vehicle carrying him is different.
"He's faced one crisis after another but he's remained so resilient. He will get through it."
Mike, who was also a gifted footballer and had trials with Everton, was a bowler for several different cricket clubs including Caerleon, Malpas and Abergavenny and racked up more than 2,000 wickets.
"He played cricket well into his 60s," added Irene. "And whenever we went anywhere there would always be someone who'd recognise him.
"He was a larger-than-life person and an imposing figure as he's 6ft 3in and weighed 16st. To see him diminish like this is so hard to take."
Irene, who has her own health issues, said she awoke on the day of the accident to the sound of Mike repeatedly crying for help downstairs.
"At first I thought I was dreaming, but then I realised it was Mike calling me. It looked like he'd cartwheeled because he'd come down the stairs with such force that his feet had gone through the wall," she recalled.
"He was in agony but he couldn't move. I called an ambulance which took three-and-a-half hours to arrive. When they got here it was obvious that he was in a bad way as they couldn't move him.
"They couldn't get him into The Grange [University Hospital] because at the time it was the Covid centre for Gwent and ICU was full of patients, so he had to go to UHW."
As soon as Mike arrived at UHW he underwent emergency surgery to insert metal plates where the C6 and C7 parts of his vertebrae meet.
"From the off they said he would never walk again which was pretty horrendous," Irene said. "But I spoke to him on the phone and he was very matter-of-fact about it all. He told me he could move his head and shoulders but nothing else. He was marvellous and took it so well."
However, 10 days after his initial hospital admission Mike's health went rapidly downhill. He was unable to breathe independently and needed urgent surgery to clear his lungs. He was then taken to intensive care and placed in a coma on a ventilator where he remained for three weeks.
After suffering with pneumonia and a whole host of other complications, Mike came out of his coma and did make small signs of progress. In January 2021 he was transferred to The Grange University Hospital, in Cwmbran, on the chest ward where he is able to eat and drink independently and communicate.
"He now has no reliance on mechanical breathing at all and he's able to speak, albeit more weakly. He can use his hands a little bit as some of the nerves were above the break, and his physiotherapy in hospital has helped enormously," Irene said.
Mike's close friend Nick Kinman, 68, has set up a GoFundMe page to help the couple pay for essential alterations to their home - such as ramps, lifts, and a wet room - once he is discharged from hospital. To donate please go here.
"Mike is a fighter. He will find the changes to his life challenging to come to terms with, but with the fantastic help from the hospital staff and his wife Irene, the likelihood of being able to come home is starting to become a reality," he said.
Irene said she has found the fundraising "very humbling" and thanked everyone who had donated to date. Their target is £30,000.
"No matter what the circumstances I just want him home," she added. "They won't let him out until they feel it's safe to do so. He will need nursing care 24-7 and he will have to be turned frequently so he doesn't get pressure sores."
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